Michael Kocour

East of the Sun

oa2 22162

Purchase

MUSIC REVIEW BY Dave Rogers, WTJU

Michael Kocour is an Associate Professor and the Director of Jazz Studies at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as "one of the most sophisticated pianists in jazz," Kocour has performed at venues around the world and has been a guest on Marian McPartland's internationally syndicated NPR program "Piano Jazz." Among the many artists and ensembles with whom he has appeared with are Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Harris, James Moody, Eddie Daniels, Randy Brecker, Benny Golson, Ira Sullivan, Carl Fontana, Dewey Redman, Lew Tebackin, and the Chicago Symphony." (http://stuff.michaelkocour.com/about.htm) This appears to be his fifth release and it is a solo affair mostly covering selections from the Great American Songbook, including "I've Got A Right To Sing The Blues", "Just One Of Those Things", "East Of The Sun", "Star Dust" and "I Can't Stop Loving You" among others. Kocour's playing is beautifully flowing and delightful.